Fakhr-i ’âlam ‘sall-Allâhu ’alaihi wa sallam’ was the most generous of human beings. He has never been heard to say, “I don’t have,” about something asked from him. If he had the thing asked for, he would give it; if he didn’t have it, he wouldn’t answer. The Prophet had so many great attributes and had done so many favours for so many people that the Byzantine emperors and the Persian shahs could not do enough to compete with him. But he himself liked to live in inconvenience. He led such a life that he would not even remember to eat or drink.
He never used words like “Bring something to eat,” or “Cook such and such food.” He used to eat when they brought the meal to him, and he used to accept whatever fruit they offered to him. Sometimes he ate very little for months, and he liked hunger. And sometimes he ate much. He used to eat with three fingers. He didn’t drink water after meals. He would drink water sitting. When he ate with others, he used to stop eating after everybody had finished. He used to accept presents from anybody. In response to someone who had brought him a present, he used to give much more.
Endless Bliss First Fasicle | Page 235
